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1. Clearly define your objectives and the reasons for wanting to make a change. In order to be objective, you will need to do this before starting the search process. Discuss these objectives and reasons with your spouse, trustworthy friends, and family. You may discover that these very issues which are motivating you to want to make a job change can be better addressed by taking some other action.
   
   
2. Be open-minded and willing to entertain opportunities that are reasonably close to your predefined objectives. Don't expect every opportunity to be perfect. Many companies and managers are flexible enough to re-define positions according to the skills of the selected candidate. Remember, if you do not interview for a position because it wasn't exactly right, you may miss out on a great opportunity. Besides, even if the interview does not result in a job offer that you would want, the practice will sharpen your interviewing skills for the next opportunity.
   
   
3. If, after concluding the interview process, a company wants to offer you a position, you should first, determine if you would want the position... does it satisfy your objectives and the reasons for wanting to make a change which you defined at the beginning of the process. The next step, determine your expectations with regard to compensation and relocation. While we would all like to earn as much as we possibly can, you will need to establish a level of compensation that would make an offer for this opportunity acceptable to you. Your FPC Of Hinsdale search consultant will need this information in order to help you negotiate the best possible package. The critical point, however, is to separate the desire for the position from the element of compensation. A position that satisfies your objectives and the reasons for wanting to make a change may be appropriate even at a compensation level that is slightly lower than you would prefer, but, a position that is not right for you should never be accepted, even if the compensation is very high. Having gone through these two thought processes before an offer is extended will make evaluating the offer much easier.
   
   
4. When the offer is extended, if it is acceptable according to item three above, then accept it enthusiastically! Let your new employer know that you are very happy and anxiously looking forward to the new challenge. Delays in making a decision may not make a good impression on the new employer.
   
   
5. At this point, emotion can become a major factor in many individual's decision-making process. The thought of leaving friends and coworkers at your current position, in addition to leaving friends and family if the new position requires relocation, can sometimes be overwhelming. Buyer's remorse can kick in and have you question whether you are doing the right thing. The fear of change can easily cause you to rationalize why no change at all would be better. This is when your objectives and the reasons for wanting to make a change which you defined at the beginning of the process becomes so important. It should enable you to temper the emotional response with objective reasoning. Your FPC Of Hinsdale search consultant will also help you to remember these objectives and stay focused on how this opportunity will accomplish them.
   
   
6. When these fears, coupled with a response from your current employer who will be sorry to see you leave and may offer money or job changes to motivate you to stay, trusting that you made the right decision can become even more difficult. Stay the course. Once the decision has been made for the right reasons, it would be a mistake to let emotion or money dissuade you from what you know is the right thing to do based on objective reasoning. Avoiding the temptation of a counter-offer can save you much anguish in the future. (See Counteroffers... Lose-Lose Propositions.)
   
   
7. Complete your obligations to your current employer in a professional and efficient manner and leave under the best possible terms. (See How to Resign.) You never know where the future may lead; you may end up working with your boss or coworkers again.
   
   
8. Be prepared to get off to the best possible start in your new position and enjoy the satisfaction of making a change based on clear, rational, and objective reasons that will enhance your value as an employee and make your life more enjoyable.
   

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